Control of switches in totalizer systems



June 18, 1935. |MB

ooNTRL OF SWITCHES IN TOTALIZER SYSTEMS Filed Dec. 23, 1930 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 7 lNVGNTdR June 18, 1935. F. LIME; 2,005,151

CdNTROL OF SWITCHES IN TOTALIZER SYSTEMS Filed Dec. 2-3, 1950 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 18, 1935. |MB 2,005,151

CONTROL OF SWITCHES 1N 'TOTALIZER SYSTEMS Filed Dec. 23, 1930 s Sheets-Sheet 4 M g1 33 Q a 6 .5 l: 1;

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June 18, 1935. UMB 2,005,151

CONTROL OF SWITCHES IN TOTAL-IZER SYSTEMS Filed Dec. 25, 1930 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 1;; L 4 1: I601 (42;; R

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CONTROL OF SWITCHES UL TOTALiZEli SYSTEMS Filed 1:90.25, 1930 s Sheets-Sheet e 'F/Qo. I

R 5 MW i GCETJ June 18, 1935. F. LIMB CONTROL OF swmcxms I-N TOTALIZER SYSTEMS 8 Sheets- Sheet 7 Filed. Dec. 23, 1930 June 18, 1935. F. LIMB CONTROL OF SWITCHES IN TOTALIZER SYSTEMS Filed Dec. 23, 1930 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 pvveNTq K Patented June 18, 1935 UNITED ,STATES CONTROL or SWITCHES m 'ro'rauzan SYSTEMS Frederick Limb, Beeston, England, assignor to Ericason Telephones Limited, London, England Application December 23, 1930, Serial No. 504,329 In Great Britain January 80, 1930 2 Claims.

The present invention relates to the control of switches in totalizer systems and has for one of its objects to provide a new and improved method of control combined with economy in wiring between the point of control and the switch or switches that it is desired to control.

In order to effect economies in wiring between the transmitting stations .and the central apparatus various methods have been proposed. In one known method the so-called code signalling system is employed in which signals are transmitted on one, two or more of a plurality of conductors leading to a decoder at the central apparatus in difi'erentv combinations depending upon the particular bet key, or other competitor determining device, operated at the transmitting station. The decoder consists of a plurality of relays associated with the various conductors. According to the code transmitted, a certain combination of relays operates which causes the appropriate totalizer, corresponding to the competitor upon which the bet .is made, to register the amount of the bet. Hitherto, one of the disadvantages of the code signalling system has been that a wrong, or a false bet is liable to be registered if, for instance, a fault 'devolops on any of the conductors upon which the code signals are transmitted According to the present invention in a totalizer system arrangements are provided whereby a bet signal is not accepted unless a fixed number of conductors greater than one is marked.

The term marking" employed here and throughout the specification means that the potential of the conductor is made different from that of the others or from its normal value. Thus the application of a potential to a conductor marks that conductor or alternatively the removal of a potential from a conductor may similarly mark the conductor if normally it has a potential applied thereto.

According to a feature of the invention, instead of the various conductors being connected to decoding relays they may be connected to banks of a switch adapted to select the appropriate totalizer in accordance with the particular the acceptance of the previous signal by the pool totaiizer.

Other features of the invention will be evident from the following description of one manner of carrying it into eflect in relation to an electric totalizer system used in public places for totalizing the amount of money received for admission at diflerent'entrances, for example, or for totalizing the number or amount of sales to the public or of investments by the public. It should be understood, however, that other methods of carrying out the invention may be adopted without in any way departing from the scope of the invention. a n

One form of the invention is represented diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings wherein:-- V

Figure 1 represents the essential portions of the circuits at a signal transmitting station,

Figures 2 to 7 (which should be connected together side by side so that Figure 3 comes to the right of Figure 2 and Figure 4 to the right of Figure 3 etc.) represent circuit arrangements for connecting the signal transmitting stations to a centralized registering apparatus, and

Figure 8 represents the circuit of a registering device situated at a centralized ofllce.

Referring now to the drawings,

Figure 1 shows the circuit arrangements at a registration signal transmitting station having two ticket machines for transactions specified by the Nos. I to 40 inclusive, and Nos. 4| to inclusive, respectively, for controlling the central apparatus. Contacts a, b, c, d, e and f are associated with conductors A, B, C, D, E and F respectively and are closed in combinations of three at a time whenever a signalling key at the ticket machine for Nos. l to 40 is operated. Similarly contacts a b 0 d 6 and f are also associated, respectively, with the same conductors and are closed in combinations of three at a time whenever a key at the ticket machine for Nos. ll to 80 is operated. Contact 9 is an additional contact that is .closed only when a key associated with one of the 'Nos. 2| to 40 inclusive is operated. Similarly g is a contact that is closed only when a key associated with one of the Nos. 6| to 80 inclusive is operated. Contact 71. is closed when any key of the machine relative to Nos. l to 40 inclusive is operated and contact n is closed when any key of the machinerelative to Nos. 4| to 80 inclusive is operated.v

Figures 3 to (inclusive show the circuit 0 switches and relays at the central ofiice by means of which a signal is directed to the appropriate totalizing apparatus.

Figure 8 shows the circuit of a. registering switch and associated apparatus for counting the signals at the central oflice.

The arrow pointed wipers such as 125, 26, pl and p8 (Figure 6) represent wipers of the nonbridging type that is to say wipers which do not bridge over successive contacts when they pass from one contact to another. On the other hand wipers similar to those represented by p2, p3 and 124 (Figure 3) bridge over successive contacts as each step is taken. Switches P and Q have double ended wipers the same 25 contacts being wiped over twice during one revolution of the switch. Switch UA (Figure 8) is shown having single ended wipers arranged in pairs so that contacts are wiped over by each wiper of a pair in succession. This switch thus has 50 different positions.

The detail of circuit operations will now be described and the various drawings should be arranged in order so as to facilitate tracing the various circuits; thus Figure 2 should be placed on the right of Figure 1, Figure 3 on the right of Figure 2 and so on. Relays and switches are designated by capital letters that are placed on the drawings near their relative operating coils. Contacts are shown detached from their operating coils and are designated by small letters. The number of movable contacts on each relay or switch is shown by the numeral under its designation, thus denotes that switch P has eight movable contacts, one, an interrupter contact, is designated -pl, and others, which are wipers, are designatedpZ to p8 inclusive. These wipers will be found on Figures 3 and 6.

It will be assumed that an investment is made in connection with a transaction specified by a number between 1 and 20 inclusive and that an operator depresses a key associated with that transaction thereby causing earth potential to be applied to conductors A, B and C by closing contacts a, b and c. The way various combinations of contacts are closed by the operation of different keys will not be described as it forms no part of the present invention. A description of such apparatus will be found in the specification of British Patent No. 345,307 dated December 20th, 1929.

Upon the closure of contact h, owing to the operation of a key, relay ST operates in a circuit from earth, contact h, relay M, conductor H, relay ST (Figure 2), to battery. Relay M does not operate owing to the relatively high resistance of relay ST. Contact st2 closes a circuit from earth, contacts ts3 and hbl (Figure 5) in parallel, conductor l, contacts stZ and 11.1 (Figure 2) resistance RT, right-hand winding of relay TR to battery.

Relay TR operates and contact tri extends the earth potential on conductor i to battery by way of relay 'I'P. Relay 'I'P operates and contact tpl connects the left-hand winding of relay TR to the earth potential on conductors A, B and C right-hand winding.

by way of resistances RI, R2 and R3 in parallel.

Resistances Rl to R6 inclusive are all equal and are such that the eifect of the current, passing through three resistances in parallel, in series with the left-hand winding of relay TR, equals that of the current flowing through the This relay is, however, wound differentially and it will therefore release and thus open the circuit of relay 'I'P at contact trl. Relay TP releases slowly but is designed to allow suiiicient time for relay N, which is slightly slow to energize, to operate in'a, circuit from the earth potential on conductor l by way of contacts st2, tri and U02, relay N to battery' Once operated, relay N locks independently of contact tp2 by way of contact 118-.

Contacts nl, n2 and 113 open the circuit of the left-hand winding and contact n1 opens that of the right-hand winding of relay TR to prevent further operation of this relay.

Contact nil) closes a circuit from earth, contacts st3 and nlil, relay SZ, resistance R8 to battery. Relay SZ will not operate, however, when combination switch P is in the position shown, as relay SZ is short-circuited by way of contact n9, conductor 2, contact col (Figure 4), conductor 3, wiper p2 (Figure 3) to the earth on conductor C. Contact nil (Figure 2)- closes a circuit for switch P from earth, contacts szl and nl i, conductor 4, contact 002 (Figure 4), interrupter contact pi the magnet of switch P to battery. Switches P and Q are preferably of the well-known telephone type which advance their wipers upon release of their controlling magnet. A description of such a switch will be found for 1,693,027. The magnet of switch P energizes and opens interrupter contact pl therebycausing the magnet to release and move the wipers forward one step. Relay SZ is then short-circuited by way of wipers 122, p3 and M in parallel to the earth at Eai and therefore still remains unoperated. When interrupter contact pl closes, afterthe release of the magnet of switch P, the magnet again operates, opens its own circuit and moves the wipers forward another step. Relay SZ is now short-circuited by way of wiper p2 to the earth on conductor B. So long as relay SZ remains unoperated switch P continues to drive in the manner described.

In the particular example chosen, that is, on the assumption that conductors A, B and C are earthed by the operation of the chosen key at the transmitting station and the initial position of switch P being in the position arbitrarily indicated in the drawings, relay SZ is short-circuited in various positions of the switch by way of one or more of the wipers p2, p3 and p4 either to the earth potential on one of the conductors A, B or C, or to the earth at Eal until the switch has reached the first contact in each respective level of contacts. There is then no short-circuiting earth for relay 52, which therefore can now operate and open the driving circuit of switch P at contact szi and closes a circuit from earth, contact szl, conductor 5, relay BS (Figure 5) to battery. The switch therefore remains on the first contacts and relay BS operates.

Wipers pl, 123 and p4 are of the bridging type in order that there may be no interruption of the earth potential on conductor 2 during their rotation until the requiredposition, at which the switch has to stop, has been reached. This ensures that relay 52 will not operate prematurely or'interfere with the drive circuit of switch P or Q through repeated momentary fluxing 01' its core at each step.

The following table gives the various switch positions in the first column and the conductors in the second column any of which if earthed, during the searching operation of the switch, cause it to step on to the next position. The third column gives the combination of conductors which must not be earthed in order that the switch may stop in the corresponding position in the first column. It will be noted that the switch cannot stop in positions 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 as these are permanently earthed.

Conduc- Combination Switch position $333132 on which step switch wipers rest A B C D E F A B D C E F A B E D F A B F C D E No rest Common earth A C D B E F A C E B D F A C F B D E A D E B C F No rest Common earth A D F B C E A E F B 0 D B C D A E F B C E A D F No rest Common earth B C F A D E B D E A C F B D F A C E B E F A 0 D No rest Common earth 0 D E A B F- C D F A B E C E F A B D D E F A B C No rest Common earth A signalling circuit is now completed to the individual totalizer from earth, contact std (Figure 2), conductor 6, contacts bs3 and ts2 (Figure 5), left-hand winding of relay HB in parallel with resistance R9, conductor I, contact 003 (Figure 4) conductor 8, contacts gel and pcl (Figure 6) wiper p5, conductor 9, a Winding of relay S (Figure 8) to battery. Relay S operates but .relay HB does not receive sufficient current to operate. If wiper m2 is not on a-contact associated with conductor 9 a circuit is closed from earth, contacts cal, sl and mi magnet of receiving switch RA to battery. The receiving switch is thus driven round under the influence of interrupter contact ral until wiper m2 encounters a marked contact' such as the one associated with conductor 9 when a branch of the previously traced circuit is extended by way of wiper m2 to relay CA and battery. Relay CA operates but relay HB still does not receive sufficient current to operate. Contact cal opensthe circuit of the magnet of switch RA to prevent further stepping and completes an obvious circuit for relay CXAI Relay CXA operates and completes at contact cxal a circuit for the magnet of registering switch UA.

Should the investment under consideration be the first investment set up for the particular transaction, contact c:ra2 completes a circuit for relay SA from earth, contact cxaZ, wiper uad, contact sa5, relay SA to battery. Relay SA operates and locks by way of contact sa5 to the earth at key KH during the time investments are in progress.

The closure of contact ualll shunts relay CA by a resistance, RH. This resistance is not low enough to cause the release of relay CA, but the combined resistance of RH, relay CA and the winding of relay S in parallel allows sufllcient current through relay HB (Figure 5) to cause it to "to operate whereupon contacts ml and m2 close the operating circuit of motor SM 01' the ticket machine mechanism.

Relay TS (Figure 5) is held operated from earth, contacts tel, bs2, tsl, relay TS to battery. Contact tsl holds relay BS operated'by way of contacts tz3 and bsl independently of contact szl (Figure 2). Contact ts3 removes the earth on conductor I, contact hbl being already opened.

Contact ts! opens the previously traced signalling circuit leading to the individual totalizer thereby causing relays S, CA and CXA (Figure 8) to release but relay HB (Figure 5) remains held by way of its right-hand winding. The magnet of switch UA (Figure 8) then releases and moves its wipers forward one step. This switch is similar to switches P and Q and a description of switches of this kindwill be found in the specification of U. S. Patent No. 1,693,027. Appropriate circuits are then closed from the earth at contacts sa3 and sal and at contacts sal and $122 by way of certain of the wipers ua6 to ua9 inclusive to apparatus for controlling the indicator. It is not thought necessary to describe this apparatus nor the method of transferring registration and indication of investments from one denomination to a higher denomination as they are not subjects of the present invention.

The operation of relay TS (Figure 5) also causes a circuit to be closed from earth, contacts ts5 and tz2, right-hand winding of relay TB in parallel with resistance RIB, conductor ll, contact opl (Figure 6), conductor l2 to the pool total- UA (Figure 8) and then only when the magnet of this switch has shunted relay CA by the closure of contact ualll as previously described. It is thus assured that relay TB does not operate until After acthe pool totalizer accepts .the signal. ceptance relay TB operates and looks from earth, contacts ts5 and tbl, left-hand winding of relay TB to battery.

Contact tb! closes an obvious circuit for relay TZ. Contact tz2 opens the circuit leading to the pool totalizing apparatus causing the release and advance of the registering switch and the release of the associated relays.

The operation of the ticket machine mechanism causes the issue of a ticket on the required transaction in a known manner and the release oi contacth (Figure 1) and the combination contacts a, b and c, which it has been assumed are operated in particular example being described.

Relays M and ST, release and the former opens the circuit of the ticket machine operating mechanism at contacts mi and m2. Contact st2 (Figure 2) opens the circuit of relay N, contact st3 opens the circuit of relay SZ and contacts opens the holding circuit of relay I-EB. Relays N, SZ and HB release. Contact hb3 opens the circuit of relay TS. Relay TS releases and contact ts5 opens the circuit of relay TB. Relay TB releases and contact tb2 opens the circuit of relay TZ. Relay TZ then releases and all apparatus is at normal.

. The circuit arrangements-are designed to prevent a second signal from being registered before the previous one has been registered by both the individual and pool totalizers. The ticket machines are arranged so that only one key can be operated at a time and once operated they remain locked until the ticket machine has nearly completed the ticket printing and issuing operation. Such ticket machines are quite well known and a description thereof may be found for example in British Patent Specification No. 289,901, dated November 2nd, 1926. It may happen however that a key is released and a second key depressed before registration of the pool is effected. From the previous description it follows that relay M (Figure 1) cannot start the ticket machine until the individual totalizer accepts the signal and relay HB (Figure 5) operates and closes contact 71124. Relay BS, which operates subsequently to the operation of relay SZ when the combination switch stops searching, remains operated if the pool totalizer has not accepted the signal and holds relay TS operated. Relays ST, M, N and HB release as before. .The relays remaining operated owing to the pool totalizer not yet having accepted the signal are BS and TS. If now a second key be depressed operations take place as previously described up to the point of the combination switch finding the appropriate resting position and the consequent operation of relay SZ. The signal cannot, however, be extended to the individual pool totalizer owing to the signal lead being opened at contact 1582. No further change can take place until the pool totalizer accepts the signal, the relays operated at this point being ST, N, SZ, BS and TS.

When the pool totalizer eventually accepts the signal relays TB and TZ operate in turn. Contact tzl opens the circuit of relay TS so that this relay is no longer held. Contact tsl opens the locking circuit of relay BS but this relay is once more held by way of the earth on conductor 5. The relapse or contact ts! now completes the circuit to ,,the individual totalizer and operations take place as subsequently described.

In the case of an investment in connection with a transaction specified by a number between 21 v and 40 inclusive, contact g (Figure 1) is closed when a key is operated in addition to contact h and three of the combination contacts. Contact 9 earths conductor l3 thereby causing relay GC (Figure 6) to operate. Subsequent operations take place which are similar to those already described except that conductor 8 is now extended by way of contacts gel and p02 to wiper p1 and thence to the appropriate individual totalizer depending upon the position taken by switch P. Relay GC releases when contact g opens which takes place when the bet key is released.

In the case of an investment for a number between 41 and 60, inclusive, the signal is made from the second machine although it will be understood that if preferred one machine may be provided which can cope with signals in connection with all the transactions. Contacts 72. and three of the combination contacts a b (1 e and f are closed as in the case of a key being operated for one of the numbers 1-40 in- I The principle of the operations that elusive. take place is similar to those previously described but in this case relay M operates upon acceptance of the signal by the individual totalizer instead of relay M and causes the operation of motor SM of the second machine and the printing and issuing of the ticket by that machine. Also contact a is closed and earths conductor M. This causes the operation of relay CO (Figure 4).

Contact 002 changes over the connections on conductor 4 from the magnet of switch P to the magnet of switch Q so that switch Q is caused to find the appropriate position corresponding to the combination selected by the key. Contact col changes over so that conductor 2 is now transferred to wipers q2, g3 and q4. These wipers are connected in a similar manner to wipers p2, p3 and M, respectively, so that switch Q continues to step until a position is found in which there is no short-circuiting earth for relay SZ.

Contact 003 changes over signal conductor 1 from conductor 8 to conductor l5 so that the signal is extended to the appropriate individual totalizer for one of the numbers 41 to 60 inclusive by way of the latter conductor. The operation of the various relays is thus similar to the previous description except that relay CO remains operated until contact 7' is opened during the ticket ifsuing operations.

In the case of an investment for a number between 61 and 80 inclusive contact g (Figure 1) is closed in addition to the other contacts that are closed as a result of an operation of the key. Contact 9 earths conductor l3 resulting in the operation of relay GC (Figure 6). Contact gcZ changes over the connection of conductor I5 by way of contacts 9122, p05 and wiper q! to the appropriate individual totalizer for one of the transactions 61 to 80 inclusive the circuit operations being otherwise similar to the case of an investment for numbers 41 to 60 inclusive, except that contact 9 is opened and relay GC releases durin the ticket issuing operation.

If it is desired to make a different kind or form of investment on any of the transactions, key KI or K2 is operated, dependent upon whether a signal is to be transmitted from the first or second machine respectively, prior to the operation of the signalling key. The closure of either of the keys Kl or K2 earths conductor l6 resulting in the operation of relay PC (Figure 6).

Contact Pol changes over the connection of conductor 8 from wiper p5 to wiper 126 so that 'an investment of this kind in one of the at contact p03.

izers by way of change over contacts 904 and 1205 respectively, the corresponding totalizers being connected to the outlets associated with wiper g6 for transactions 41 to 60 inclusive and with wiper q8 for transactions 61 to 80 inclusive.

The key for modified investments remains operated until the operation of the ticket machine causes the release of the signalling key. The signalling key, which is operated after the modified investment key, causes circuit operations to take place which are fundamentally similar to those already described except upon the opera tion of relay HB (Figure which takes place upon the acceptance of the signal by the individual totalizer of modified investments a circuit is closed from earth, contact hb3, conductor 20,

contact p03 (Figure6) relay OP to battery. Relay OP operates and contact op2 extends the earth on conductor 20 to relay TS (Figure 5). Relay TS, which immediately operates after the operation of relay HB in the case of a normal investment cannot so operate in the case of a modified investment because its circuit is opened In the latter case, however, it operates immediately after relay 01?. Contact 07:12 also holds relay OP operated by way of the earth on conductor 2! should relay HB release before the pool totalizer for modified investments has not accepted the signal.

Contact opl changes over the connection of conductor II from conductor l2 to conductor IT. This conductor leads to the pool totalizer for modified investments.

When the modified investment key is finally released, during the operation of the ticket machine, the earth is removed from conductor l6 resulting in the release of relay PC. The relapse of contact 3203 opens the circuit of relay OP. The latter relay will therefore release unless the place pool totalizer for modified investments has not accepted the signal. In the latter case it is held by way of the earth on conductor 2|. Upon the eventual acceptance of the signal by the pool totalizer for modified investments and the consequent operation of relay TZ, relay OP will release owing. to the removal of earth on conductor 2| by contact tzl (Figure 5).

If it should happen that either fewer or more than three of the conductors A to F, inclusive,

are earthed when a signalling key is operated due to a fault, as, for instance, a disconnected or permanently earthed conductor, differential relay TR will remain operated consequent upon the closure of contact tpl. This is because the eflect ofthe current'in the windings of relay TR. will be unbalanced. This relay TR is of the ordinary differential type such as described for example in Telephony by McMeen 8: Miller (American Technical Society, Chicago), revised edition, page 143, paragraph 2 and the following paragraph. If, for instance, too few conductors are earthed too little current will flow in its lefthand winding; if too many conductors are earthed there will be too much current in the left-hand winding in order to neutralize the effect of current flowing in the right-hand winding. Relay TR may momentarily release but it will reoperate (while the fiux is building up in the opposite direction) before relay N has time to operate. The non-operation of relay N prements may be modified accordingly.

number of conductors marked must be neither less nor more than a definite fixed number in order that a signal may be accepted. If it be desired to allow a signal to be accepted when a variable number of conductors is marked and yet prevent acceptance if the number marked is less than a certain minimum the circuit arrange- For example, the circuit may be modified so that the acceptance of a signal is made dependent upon the operation of relay TR. instead of its release. Relay TB. in this case would be designed so that it would operate if three or more of the conductors A, B, C, D, E, or F were earthed, but not operate if less than three of the conductors were earthed. If relays are used instead of switches for accepting combination signals and causing the appropriate totalizers to be associated with the transmitting stations, the relay contacts may be so arranged that a circuitto cause the acceptance of the signal is completed only if the number of conductors that are marked is correct.

I claim:

1. A totalizer system comprising a plurality of conductors leading from a transmitting station to receiving apparatus, impulse transmitting contacts whereby a plurality of circuits are closed over certain of the said conductors in combination, each of the said contacts closing one and only one of the said circuits, registering means, controlling means for causing an impulse to be transmitted to the said registering means, and current-operated means having one winding in circuit with the said conductors and another winding energized in a local circuit whereby the said controlling means are caused to operate when a prearranged number of the said circuits are closed and prevented from so doing if any other number of the said circuits are closed.

2. A totalizer system comprising a plurality of conductors leading from a transmitting station to receiving-apparatus, impulse transmitting contacts for marking certain of the said conductors in combination, each of the said contacts marking one and only one of the said conductors, 

